Richard Keyes (1939–2012) was a highly respected graphic designer and educator. He graduated from Art Center College of Design in 1987 with a degree in graphic design and began his career designing corporate identities and annual reports in Palo Alto, California. He later returned to Southern California and built a successful freelance career, working with clients including Warner Brothers Records, Guess Jeans, the Los Angeles Housing Department, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and serving as a color consultant for Empire Berol, BIC, and Avery Dennison.

Richard dedicated decades to teaching, beginning at Cal State L.A. in 1988 and later instructing at Valley Community College, UCLA Extension, and Art Center College of Design, where he specialized in color theory, graphic design, and narrative structure. He also taught workshops at Disney Studios, leaving a lasting impact on generations of designers and artists.